What background experience do you bring to the political table?
I am contesting the by election as the Labor candidate to give electors the opportunity to send a strong message to Malcolm Turnbull. The government is failing to deliver for the Upper Hunter and regional Australia generally.
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What are your main priorities for the Upper Hunter?
Labor’s priorities for the Upper Hunter are improving access to high quality and affordable health care, funding our schools on the basis of the need of students and restoring penalty rates for the workforce of the Upper Hunter.
What is your stance on the Scone bypass / railway overpass?
Labor funded the project and it has taken the threat of this by-election for the Government to commit to the project. Labor will continue to support this critical nation building infrastructure project.
What is your stance on renewable energy and the balance between mining and agriculture in the region?
Labor has a proud track record in supporting the development of the renewable energy sector. The New England has enormous renewable energy resources. The Government must stop putting in place obstacles to building capacity in the renewable energy sector. Our policy is to have 50% renewable energy by 2030 to facilitate energy transition and meet our international obligations to combat climate change under the Paris Agreement, as ratified by ex-Prime Minister, Tony Abbott. Mining proposals - as with all development proposals - should be assessed on their merits based upon the best science available. They should be planned to present with the best possible balance between agriculture and other uses of land.
What are the top three areas of concern to you in this electorate?
Access to high quality and affordable health care; proper funding for our schools, which are among the most disadvantaged in the country; and the restoration of penalty rates for workers.
Why should the Upper Hunter vote for you?
As someone who lives locally in Scone, has served in the Royal Australian Air Force and worked in the coal and steel industries, I know what it takes to represent our community. I will provide the communities of our region with a strong local voice in Canberra. This is in stark contrast to the Nationals who have taken our region for granted for far too long.
